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V Macchia

Publications and source records attributed to V Macchia.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of goiter endemia by ultrasound in schoolchildren in Val Sarmento (Italy).

Ultrasonography is an excellent and objective method for assessing thyroid volume, especially in children where clinical evaluation is inaccurate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of goiter by thyroid ultrasound and palpation in 244 schoolchildren, 6 to 14 years old, living in some rural villages of Val Sarmento, a mountain area of Basilicata, Italy. In 1996 we revealed the presence of endemic goiter in 25% of the schoolchildren evaluated by palpation, according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and in 15.9% of the schoolchildren evaluated by ultrasonography (7.5 MHz linear probe). The median urinary iodine excretion, taken from an extemporaneous sample of the first urines in the morning, was 62.2 microg/l. This study includes Val Sarmento, an area with mild-moderate grade (Grade I) of iodine deficiency, suggesting the need for iodine prophylaxis. Furthermore, it proves that the measurement of thyroid volume by ultrasonography is an essential instrumental method for a correct epidemiological study of endemic goiter, particularly in areas where there is mild iodine deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor markers and lung cancer: correlation between serum and bronchial secretion levels of CEA, TPA, CanAg CA-50, NSE and ferritin.

The levels of carcinoembryonic antigeny (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigeny (TPA), CanAg 50, neuron specific enolase (NSE) and ferritin were determined in bronchial secretion and serum of patients with neoplastic and non-neoplastic lung diseases. Simultaneous determination of two or three markers in the serum and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) may be clinically useful for the diagnosis of lung cancer and even for the type of tumor. The positivity of CEA determined simultaneously in serum and in BAL of patients with lung cancer is higher than 80% whereas in patients with benign lung disease it is lower than 40%. The simultaneous assay of TPA in serum and in BAL showed 100% positivity in patients with oat-cell carcinoma, the frequencies of positivity were similar in patients with non-oat-cell carcinoma. For NSE and CanAg CA-50 patients with oat-cell carcinoma showed 100% positivity. Simultaneous assay of ferritin in serum and in BAL gave 85% positivity in patients with oat-cell carcinoma and only 23% in patients with non-oat-cell carcinoma. We conclude that the simultaneous determination of CEA and CanAg CA-50 or NSE in serum and in BAL is a useful aid in the diagnosis of lung malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum and tissue levels of CEA, TPA, CA 125 and CA 15.3 in patients with lung cancer.

Forty-nine healthy subjects (Group I), 24 patients with benign lung diseases (Group II) and 48 patients surgically treated for lung cancer (Group III): 28 with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 20 with adenocarcinoma (adenoca), were tested for the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), cancer antigen CA 125 and antigen CA 15.3. The four markers were measured in the serum of the patients of the three groups and in the cytosol extract of tumoral and peritumoral tissues of Group III subjects. The mean levels of serum CEA and TPA were significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma and in adenocarcinoma patients than in normal subjects. In benign lung disease serum CEA was equal and TPA slightly higher than in normal subjects. CA 125 was higher in the serum of patients with malignant diseases compared to normal or benign lung diseases but this difference was not statistically significant. Serum CA 15.3 levels were similar in all subjects studied. CA 125 in squamous cell carcinoma cytosol was much higher than in peritumoral cytosol whereas the other three markers were not significantly different in tumor cytosol or peritumoral cytosol. A direct correlation between serum and cytosol values was observed for CEA, but not for the other markers. The levels of the four markers in serum and cytosol did not correlate with the stage or grade of the tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor, carcinoembryonic antigen and Lewis carbohydrate antigens in human colorectal and liver neoplasias.

The expression of LewisY related carbohydrate antigens and the content of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in colorectal and liver tumors were determined. These included 30 large bowel adenocarcinomas (7 colon, 6 sigma, 5 caecum, 12 rectum), 12 hepatocellular carcinomas and 6 liver metastases. Histologically normal tissue excised along with the tumors were used as controls. All plasma membranes studied showed specific EGF binding, and tumor plasma membranes had an EGF receptor level higher than that of the normal counterpart. However, EGF-R was positive in only a few tumors, and no correlation between clinical stages and grades of differentiation was observed. Cytosol CEA was higher in tumors than in normal counterparts. Tissue AFP and CEA content was different in liver hepatocellular carcinomas and in liver metastases. They are good markers to differentiate between primary and secondary liver neoplasias. The LewisY and related carbohydrate antigens, evaluated by the reactivity of the tissues to monoclonal antibody MAb B3, are expressed in liver metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma. MAb B3 failed to react with hepatocellular carcinomas and with peritumoral liver tissues obtained from both metastatic and primary tumor lesions. These data suggest that immunoblotting with MAb B3 may be useful to obtain more information on liver carcinomas. Furthermore, MAb B3 or CEA armed with toxin in the form of recombinant immunotoxin or linked to a radionuclide can be useful in new treatments of metastatic lesions, such as immunotherapy, radioimmunotherapy and radioimmunoguided surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidermal growth factor receptor and tissue tumor markers in human intracranial neoplasms.

The content of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and its relation to tissue CEA and NSE were examined in 22 intracranial neoplasms (18 primary intracranial tumors and 4 metastasis from lung cancer). The EGFr was measured by a radioligand assay on crude plasma membrane preparations. The tissue tumor markers (CEA and NSE) were measured on the high speed supernatant of tissue homogenates. In the primary intracranial tumors the EGFr was positive in 68%, CEA in 43% and NSE in 47% of all cases examined. As it concerns the metastasis from lung cancer the positivity was 75% for EGFr while for CEA and NSE was 50% and 32% respectively. These results suggest that the routine measurement of EGFr, associated with the determinations of tissue CEA and NSE could provide useful information on the type of the intracranial neoplasms.

Adult↗